Better Ways to Say Thank You in English (30+ New Expressions)

This lesson was originally posted in November 2016. It was updated with new content and a video in May 2019.

You’re walking to work and a stranger stops you on the street to say, “I love your skirt.” In English. What do you say?

Or maybe your English-speaking neighbor brings your family dinner because you were at the hospital for surgery. That’s super nice! So how could you express how thankful you are?

Saying thank you has power. It can help you feel gratitude, share joy and kindness with others, and make other people smile and feel happy.

I want you to know how ALL the different ways to say thank you in English so you can express your appreciation in any situation.

In today’s lesson you’ll NEW ways to say thank you when:

• Your colleague offers to get you some coffee from the cafeteria
• Your boss holds the door open for you
• A company offers you a job or a promotion
• You end a business meeting with new clients
• Your husband/wife offers to clean the dishes because you had a long day
• Your friend calls and remembers you on your birthday
• Your team at works stays late to finish a project on time
• Your friend helps you during a difficult time after your mom passed away

With this Confident English lesson, you’ll learn more than 30 common ways to express thanks in English so you can adapt to any situation.

Did your friend just wish you and your husband a happy anniversary? Did your office celebrate your birthday with cake? Did a stranger hold a door open for you at the post office?

For these everyday, informal experiences, we can use a variety of expression to say thanks.

Thank you. / Thanks so much. / Thanks a lot. / Thanks a bunch. / Thanks a ton. / Thanks!

Did your colleague at work just bring you a cup of coffee? Say:

• “Thanks a bunch! I really need an extra dose of caffeine right now!”
• “Thanks! You’re awesome for thinking of me.”
• “Thank you!”

I really appreciate it. / You shouldn’t have.

Did your office just give you a birthday gift or a surprise party at work? Say:

• “I can’t believe you did this! You shouldn’t have. But thank you so much. This was very kind of you.”
• “What a thoughtful gift. I really appreciate this!”

I don’t know what to say! / That’s very kind.

A stranger on the street just gave you a compliment. Say:

• “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
• “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

You’re the best. / I owe you one. / You rock.

Your friend at work stayed late to help you finish a project.

• “You’re the best. I wouldn’t have finished this on time without you.”
• “I really owe you one. Thanks for staying late. Next time you need help, I’ve got it.”

What would I do without you? / To say thank you is not enough. / I can’t thank you enough.

You had a stressful and difficult day at work. Your husband said he would take care of dinner and do all the cleanup. Say:

• “What would I do without you? You’re wonderful.”
• “I can’t thank you enough. I really need a night off.”

Some daily situations – at work and in our personal lives – require more formal language. And this is often true in writing.

For example, if you’re expressing thankfulness or gratitude in a speech at a wedding, a formal reception or networking event, or in a lecture, it would be appropriate to choose more formal language.

Or if you’re writing thank you notes to friends and family members; if you’re sending an email to say thank you to a new client; or writing to another company, again, you’ll want to use these more formal expressions.

I’m so grateful for… / I’m so thankful for… / Many thanks for…

Writing some thank you notes to friends who helped you after the birth of a baby or while you were helping a sick parent?

• “I’m so grateful for your help. It was a challenging time but you made it easier. Thank you.”
• “I’m so thankful friends like you.”

I truly appreciate… / Thank you ever so much for… / It’s so kind of you to…

Are you sending an email to everyone on your team at work for working overtime or volunteering to work on a Saturday?

• “I truly appreciate everyone’s efforts and commitments to our success. Thank you for taking time out of your personal time to meet our deadline.”
• “It was kind of each of you – and your families – to give up a Saturday to help our company volunteer at the 10km race to benefit cancer research.”

Thank you for going through the trouble to… / Thank you for taking the time to… 

Did one of your business contacts take some extra time to give you some information you needed? Send an email to say thank you…

• “Hi, Samantha. I just wanted to send a note to say thank you for taking the trouble to answer all my questions. I know you are busy and I appreciate that you took the time to respond quickly. Thank you.”

I’m eternally grateful for… / I cannot thank you enough for… / I want you to know how much I value… / Words cannot describe how grateful I am for… / Please accept my deepest thanks for…

Sometimes we have very difficult times in our lives. Maybe a loved one becomes ill. Someone passes away. Or perhaps you lose a job.

Tragedies happen. These can be terribly stressful times. If you are writing someone to thank them to help you, these expressions are most appropriate.

• “I’m eternally grateful to you for providing dinners to my family while I was in the hospital. I felt comforted knowing they were well-feed.”
• “Words cannot express how grateful I am for your help after my mom passed away. I was devastated and you helped me get through each day. ”

If you are writing an official business email or business letter, then it’s best to use professional, formal expressions to show your thanks or appreciation.

For example, you may be writing to thank someone or to thank another company for their help. Or perhaps you want to express your gratitude for them working with you this year.

Thank you for your assistance with… / Thank you for your attention to this matter

• “Thank you for your assistance with/attention to this matter. We look forward to hearing from you shortly.”

Your support is greatly appreciated. / I’d like to express my/our appreciation for… / Thank you for your kind consideration.

• “Your support in this discussion is greatly appreciated and we look forward to continuing our work with you.”
• “On behalf of our company, I’d like to sincerely express our appreciation for your business this year. We wish you Happy Holidays and look forward to another successful year together.”

After you’ve watched the video and reviewed the lesson, I’d love to hear from you!

1. What is your new favorite way to say thank you in English from this lesson? Share with me in the comments.
2. Bonus challenge: If you wanted to thank all your colleagues for helping you out with a tight deadline, how would you do so?

You can share your comments, get feedback, and learn from others in the Confident English Community by sharing your answers below.

With much gratitude for your time every week,

Annemarie

P.S. If you loved this lesson, be sure to check out New Ways to Say Thank You and You’re Welcome in English.